Button: For Lewis, it's normal when the balance is shifted forward.

      Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in the only Friday practice session at Silverstone, and after the session, people who have known the seven-time world champion well for a long time spoke about his speed on home soil.

      James Vowles currently leads the Williams team but was the chief strategist for Mercedes for many years, while Jenson Button had the opportunity to be Hamilton's teammate at McLaren at one time.

      James Vowles: "Based on my experience, I can say that Lewis feels much more comfortable behind the wheel of a car in certain circumstances and conditions. He has struggled to find the right approach to some tracks, and he couldn't explain why.

      But here at Silverstone, it's different, partly because there are British fans in the stands and the fact that we are in the UK. But it's not just that: he simply really loves some of the corner combinations on this track."

      "Yes, and from my perspective, he has always managed to achieve more effective front wheel grip," added Button, who raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren for three seasons from 2010 to 2012. "He was able to drive the car quite successfully with that balance, and he was fine with it. I couldn't do that; I needed the rear wheels to hold the track consistently.

      For Lewis, it's normal when the balance is slightly shifted forward, and he allows the car to 'play' beneath him, controlling its behavior – you can still see that on some tracks today. I believe there was less of that last year because the behavior of the cars was completely different – you couldn't allow the rear end to be unstable because it would immediately lead to spins."